Ed Miliband came unstuck on live radio this morning when he failed to name the leader of his party in the area in which he was campaigning.

But he is not leader of the council is he Mr Miliband? It’s a Conservative led council.

Ben Prater

Mr Miliband was asked on BBC Radio Wiltshire what he thought of Jim Grant, leader of the Labour group on Swindon Council.

Not only did Mr Miliband fail to recognise the councillor, he then mistakenly thought Mr Grant was the leader of the council, not an opposition member.

Radio presenter Ben Prater asked Mr Miliband: "Will he [Jim Grant] feel like you support him enough if you don’t even know his name?

The Labour leader replied: "Well he is doing a good job as leader of the council Jim is and I think that is the case."

Mr Prater later said: "But he is not leader of the council is he Mr Miliband? It’s a Conservative led council."

Mr Miliband said: "I think he is doing a good job for Labour on the council. I think he is doing a good job for Labour on the council."

After the interview had aired, Guardian journalist Jonathan Haynes tweeted: "Wow, surely if you're out campaigning you make sure you know who for - disastrous Ed Miliband Wiltshire interview."

Mr Grant could not be contacted for comment this afternoon.

The interview came just minutes after Mr Miliband appeared on ITV's Good Morning Britain and struggled to name the cost of average weekly household grocery bill.

He said he spent about £70 a week on food when the average bill is over £100.

When asked about the average weekly household grocery bill, Mr Miliband responded: "It depends on how much you are spending."

Pressed on his own family's bill, Mr Miliband said: "We probably spend £70, £80 a week on groceries at least, probably more than that. The point is that different families will have different costs that they face but what I am clear about is that there is a crisis facing so many people."

He was told on the programme that the average weekly bill for a family of four is more than £100 - so he would be spending "significantly more" than £70 to £80.